Fulton County man commits suicide after standoff with police

September 27, 2011|By ROXANN MILLER | roxann.miller@herald-mail.com

McCONNELLSBURG, Pa. — A Fulton County man killed himself after setting his house on fire following a two-hour standoff with police Monday night, according to Pennsylvania State Police in McConnellsburg.

William Ross Valentine, 50, of Robertsdale, Pa., died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after holding police at bay from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at his residence at 242 Hoover Road in Wells Township, Fulton County, Pa., police said in a news release.

Police said they were contacted after Valentine called a suicide hotline threatening to shoot anyone that came onto his porch. Troopers responded to Valentine's residence and established phone contact with him, police said.

Shortly after the contact began, Valentine started a fire in his residence, police said. Valentine then left the burning residence, fled into the backyard armed with a small-caliber handgun and shot himself in a wooded area behind the residence, according to police.